Middle East

The case of Mohammad Hegazi, young Egyptian converted to Christianity, who wishes to be legally recognized as such, has opened a new debate in the Islamic world on conversions, which are often seen as acts of apostasy that merit death. What has emerged is a veritable obsession in Islam for personal conversions, this religion having been reduced more to an ethnic and sociological submission. There is even talk of a plan to convert Europe and the world to Islam, to which European governments are giving a hand. The first part in an analysis by Fr Samir Khalil Samir, Egyptian Jesuit, expert on Islam.

Turkish public opinion is divided between those who are happy and those who are disappointed by the outcome. Some people fear the election might lead to confrontation between secularists and the religiously-inclined. Others see the new president as someone who can reconcile the parties. Some doubts persist.

Mgr Lazarus You Heung-sik, bishop of Taejŏn and chairman of Caritas Corea, talks to AsiaNews about the “dangerous precedent” set by the South Korean authorities in dealing directly with Islamic fundamentalists. People in South Korea feel joy that human lives were spared, but also humiliation about Protestant Churches, which have come under intense criticism in South Korean society.

There are 100 bishops gathered in Phanar. On the agenda, the current point in the campaign against Bartholmew I, generated by Buijidar Cipof, the schismatic Bulgarian Exarch. The Patriarch announces a visit to Premier Erdogan, to have a “sincere answer” regarding the reopening of the Theological college of Halki.

Over 2 million people are expected to make their way to the Holy City by Tuesday. The circulation of vehicles is banned to avoid possible car bombs. Check points, body checks and house by house controls in every quarter.

After two failed votes, tomorrow he will be elected without doubt. He has succeeded in gathering Kurds and liberals to his candidacy. Fears surround his Islamic past and the virtual state monopoly that Erdogan’s party will have, but the industrialist support him. Gossip on the First Lady’s veil.

Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds announce agreement on some ‘key issues.’ White House welcomes move, but analysts invite caution. Sunni block warns they will continue their boycott of the government.

22 Chaldean bishops and priests from Northern Iraq completed their spiritual exercises yesterday in Komané. Prayers and reflection on the role of the priest “hope amidst persecution”. Archbishop of Kirkuk: “our courageous priests dream of a strong Church which denounces injustice and contributes to reconciliation”.

The declaration should be finalised in time for the peace conference due to take place in November, headed by Rice. The problem of Palestinian refugees and Israeli colonies.

The three were among contesters of Ahmadinejad at the Amir Kabir Polytechnic. The chief justice wants to free them, while Tehran’s general prosecutor puts them into solitary confinement and tortures them. But the divergence between the two lawmakers is only a “cover-up”, to distract international and public opinion, to the detriment of the population.

Saddam Hussein's cousin and 14 other officials from the former regime are in the dock accused of crimes against humanity for the slaughter of about 100,000 Shias in 1991. Alì Hassan al-Majid has already been sentenced to death for his role in the Anfal campaign in northern Iraq against Kurds.

The Iraqi premier’s visit to Damascus continues today with a meeting with President Assad. In agenda: the economy, control of the borders and national reconciliation. But Maliki’s government in free fall could be seeking stronger legitimization in Syria.